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Intaglio stamp depicting Olympias - 1774
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Intaglio stamp depicting Olympias
Wedgwood and Bentley, biscuit ware intaglio stamp, depicting Olympias, Greek princess of Epirus, daughter of king Neoptolemus I of Epirus, the fourth wife of the king of Macedonia, Philip II, and mother of Alexander the Great.
Wedgwood and Bentley, biscuit ware intaglio stamp, depicting Olympias, Greek princess of Epirus, daughter of king Neoptolemus I of Epirus, the fourth wife of the king of Macedonia, Philip II, and mother of Alexander the Great. The intaglios formed from this mould were listed as number 37 in the list of Antique Subjects available in Wedgwood and Bentley's 1774 Catalogue.
- Type of object: Miscellaneous/mould
- Mark: W & B No 37 [Inscribed]
- Year first produced: 1774
- Body: Biscuit
- Glaze: Unglazed
- Material: Ceramic
- Accession number: 420
- Dimensions: 50 mm (length), 24 mm (width), 20 mm (depth)
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Glossary
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Catalogues
Catalogues
The Wedgwood factory issued both useful ware catalogues, and ornamental ware catalogues. The useful ware catalogues featured items made of cream-coloured earthenware. The ornamental ware catalogues listed cameos, portrait medallions, busts and figures.
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Intaglio
Intaglio
An Italian term meaning a design created by incising and carving below the surface, which is flat and even, and the opposite of a cameo where the design is in relief. Wedgwood made intaglios in basaltes and various coloured dry bodies for use as seals, either mounted in holders or in signet rings. Those intended for mounting in holders could be purchased with shanks for the purpose.
Early intaglios were polished. They were impressed with the catalogue number, as well as the initials 'W & B' or (after Bentley's death in 1780) 'Wedgwood'. About 1,700 different subjects were available, most of them also to be had in cameo form. They could be obtained in double form, mounted back - to - back, or mounted similarly in conjunction with a cameo of the same size. As in the case of cameos production started in 1771, and to have been well established by 1772.
